Electrical system for automobiles



,w. 0. LUM.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

"Arrucmoa men mmzs. m5.

1,335,120. T Patented Mar. 30,1920.

I m|sss=. INVENTOR Walter/0. Lum.

d a'rroRuEY -To all whom it ma concemi provide a simple and UNITED STATES PATENT orrIoE.

ELECTRIC AN D MAN comm,

oonrom'rrouor PENNSYLVANIA.

umomcu. m Iron. ammoni es.

Be it known t at I WALTER .OLLUM, a citizen of the-United tatesfand aresident of Wilkinsburfg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Systems for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. w

y invent on relates to electrical systems for automobiles and it has particular reference to lighting systems. l

y invention has for one of its objects to 4 eflicient arran ement whereby batteries may be charged y engine driven alternators which operate at varying speeds. j. v v

'ect of my invention is to pro- A second ob] vide. a simple means for protecting the lamps of lighting systems embodying sources m otor veh1cles em .rent

- gme.

been impossible to supply.

of alternating current at varying voltages and frequencies.

In the operation of electrical systems of ying alternating-curgenerators which are operatively conto the engines to supply current to it has, heretofore, the lamps with. current when the engines were at rest. Systems of the above described fcharacter possees a serious disadvantage, also, in'that the lamps are subjected to voltages whiclrvary from 'a zero value'to values approximately double those for which the lamps are adapt- In the operation of a system of this charactenit is necessary to provide addi tional lamps lighted' from a separate source in order to illuminate the .vehiclewhen it is stationary and the engine is 'at rest. The head lights of the vehicle do not sufliciently illuminatethe path of the moving vehicle when the engine is operated at a slow speed as, for example, when'turning' sharp cor ners, a strong light being essential at such times.

In a system. constructed in accordance with my invention, the vehicle lamps are, at all times, age battery is arranged to supply the lamps "with direct current at all desired times. The storage battery is charged by an alternatingcurrent generator that is driven by the encase my invention is applied to one of the well-known'Ford cars, for-example,

necte the lamps of the vehicles,

's eouqugnunmen rmiu. imam filed n ither so, 1015, send reachsecond and higher sway of example only and that -w ich may be of supplied with current A stor- 5 Patented Mar.'30,i 192 0.

the generator is that normally employed at i furnishing current for ignition pur oses.

A vibrat' g rectifier IS'OOImGCtQ in circuit with the alternator and the battery to supplythe latter withunidirectional current, the rectifier vibrating in unison with the alternations of the generator. The genorator is connected in circuit with the battery when its voltageand frequency reach predetermined values and is disconnected therefrom when its ydltage and frequency predetermined valof the generator is ues. The main circuit thus closed only when the voltage and frequency of the 'generator'have values between predetermined limits. By means of this arrangement, the maximum'value-of the voltage to which the lamps are subjected may be controlled as desired by a suitable arrangement of the circuit-controlling mechanism.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is -a' diagrammatic view of circuits andppara'tus embodyingmy invention.

A generator 1 may be driven by any convenient means, as, for example, the internalcombustion engine (not shown) of a motor vehicle. While I have illustrated the generator 1 in'the form of a magneto, it will .be understood that such illustration is by any other suitable form of dynamo-electric machine may be substituted therefor.

series of lamps 2, which may be, for example, the headlights and tail light of an automobile, are connected in circuit with a storage battery 3. The respective circuits of the lamps 2 are controlled by manually o erable switches 4. A vibrating rectifier 5,

any usual and suitable construction, comprises a stationary .eontact member'fi, a movable switch member 7, an armature member 8 which is secured .to the switch member 7, a core member 9, a coil 10 anda' spring 11 which normally retains the switch member 7 in engagement with the stationary contact member 6.

The main circuit of the generator is controlled by an electromagnetical1y operable switch 13having an actuating coil 1- that is connected between the terminals of the generator 1. A spring 15 normally holds the switch in its illustrated or open position. The coil 14 is SO arranged that it will be sufficiently energized to close the switch 13 when the voltage and frequency of the nerator reachpredetermined values. I en the voltage and frequency reach second and higher predetermined values, the reactance of the coil is such that it will permit the switch 13 to open. The values of the frequency and voltage of the generator at which the switch 13 is adapted to open and close may be predetermined by pro erly portionin the am )61'8 turns and t e mt uctance of t e coil 1 It may be assumed that the various parts occup their respective illustrated'posltions and hat the generator 1 has been started from rest and is driven at an increasing speed. The lamps 2 .are initially supplied with current by the storage battery 3. When the voltage of the generator 1 reaches a value that is greater than that of the battery, the coil 14 is energized to close the .switch 13 and thereby connect the generator in circuit with the rectifier 5, the battery 3, and. the lam s 2. I

The recti er 5 operates in the usual and well-known manner to transmit unidirectional impulse in thecircuits comprising the battery 3 and the lamps 2. The generator 1 o crates, therefore, tocharge the battery an to supply the lamps 2 with current. In case the generator 1-is driven at such speed that its voltage and frequency reach predetermined values higher than those at which the switch 13 closes, theeoil 14 gencrates a counter electromotive force which is suflicient to reduce the effective electromotive force to a value below that necessary to maintain the closure of theswitch. T e switch 13 then opens to disconnect the ge erator 1-from the lighting circuit, and the lamps are again supplied by the battery.

When the generator voltage and frequenc fall below the piedetermined values at WlllCll the switch 13 isopen'ed, the coil-14 is again energized to close the switch, and the generator sup lies eurrept for charging the battery and or lighting purposes. In case of a further decrease in voltage and frequency below the lower predetermined values, the switch 13 again opens the generator circuit.

It will be noted that the switch 13 op crates to connect the generator in circuit with the battery and the lamps only when the voltage and frequency of the generator are between predetermined limits. The discharge of the battery through the generator circuit is prevented by the opening of the switch at the lower pl'mletormiued value of the generator voltage. 'llw opening of the 'switch at the higher predetcrmimed values of generator voltage and frequency serves to limit the voltage that is a )pliod to the lamps, regardless of the speed at which the generator may be driven.

A system constructed in accordance with my invention possesses many advan es over the systems in use at present. e battery-charging system maybe applied to the several types of automobiles or motor vehicles. employin an alternator as the source of current or lighting. and ignition purposes. The lamps may be in service at all desired times, whether the vehicle is stationar or in operation. The lamps are protectet by a simple device which operates automatica ly to maintain the volta e to which they are subjected within pre etermined limits. The above and other advanta will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art .to which my invention appertains.

I claim as my invention:

I 1. In an electrical system, the combination with.an alternator, a battery and a lamp, of a rectifier connected between said alternator and said battery, and means for controlling the electrical connections of said devices in accordance with the frequency and voltage of the alternator.

2. In an electrical system the combination with an alternator, a battery and a lamp, ofa rectifier connected between said alternator and said battery, and means for controlling the electrical connectionsof said 'devices in accordance with predetern'iined maximum and minimum values of the frequency and voltage of said alternator.

3. In an electrical system, the combination with an alternator, and aconsuming device, of means for connecting said alternator in circuit with said device when the frequency and voltage of said alternator are within predetermined limits.

4. In an electrical system, the combination with an alternator, a battery, and a lamp, of means for connecting said alternator in circuit with said battery and said lam only when the fre uency and voltage of t e alternator are wi t hin predetermined limits.

5. In an electrical system, the combination with a source of alternating current, and a translating device in circuit therewith. of a switch for controlling the electrical conmotions of said source to said device, said switch having an actuating coil that is operable to effect the closing of said switch when the voltage and frequency of said .\Ull|((! are above undetermined values and to permit the switch to open when the voltng and frequency of said source are below snhl pmletermiued values or are above second and higher [)IPdtitfil'll'llflfiil values.

6. The combination with a source of alternoting current and a load circuit therefor.

voltage of said source roach successively higher prodetcrminml values.

7. In an electrical system, the combination with a source of alternating current and translating devices, of electromagnetic means for controlling the connection of said 5 devices to said source in accordance ,with

predetermined minimum and maximum values of the frequency and voltage of said source.

8. In an electrical system, the combine 10 tion with a source of alternatingcurrent and a translating device; of electromagnetic means for connecting said translating device to said source of current and for disconnecting it therefrom when the frequency and voltage of said source reach successively higher predetermined values.

9. In an electrical system, the combination with a source of alternating current and a translating device, of electromagnetic means for connecting said device to said source when the frequency and voltage of said source are within predetermined limits.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of Nov.

WALTER O. LUM. 

